Noluthando Mthonti-Mlambo speaks to Mining & Labour Analyst & Founder of Creative Voodoo, Mamokgethi Molopyane about Platinum Group Metals. Platinum mining bosses do not expect metals prices, which have fallen dramatically since last year, to drop much lower this year. And prices are likely to start recovering next year, they say. The sharp drop in platinum group metal (PGM) basket prices, which decreased by 33%-40% (depending on the basket composition), resulted in SA platinum miners delaying projects, shutting mining shafts, cutting capital expenditure and reducing employee numbers.